Bicycle-gear.



F. V. WHITMAN.

BICYCLE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1909.

Patentd Jan-117, 1911.

/NI/ENTUR FRANK UWHITMAN WITNESSES ing is a specification.

FRANK VERDER WHITMAN, GF "WALKERVLLE, MONTA' Specncation or i Application filed July 13, i989.- Serial No. 507, 2

981,7239. patented dan. s a.

having a radial lange 15 to which the disk To all whom a''may concern: l y

Be it known that 1, Faint; Vennen `WHir l .is connected by nuts 16. A bearing sleeve 7 in which is the axle 1, is )ournaled in the MAN, a citizenot the United States, and a resident of lfalkerville, in the countyv oi eeve, and 'the said sleeve near its outer end Silverbow and State ot ldontana,v have in- 1S provided with a threaded portion 18 on which is threaded a collar 19 having` an outer vented certain new and useful lmprove- 1 v ments in Bicycle-Gears, of which the followbeveled face 20: The hub portion or sleeve 14 1s also provided near its outer endA with a radialflange 21 having near its margin an outwardly extending marginal rim 22, over-lying the collar, and a ball ring E23 is arranged between the rim and the flange, and cooperates with the beveled 'face 20 of 4the collar to forni a, ball race in which is rea series of balls si split bearing encircles the axle at one end th erect, and the sleeve 17 at the other end, one section 25 of each of the bearings being integral with the adjacent rear fork 26 ot the bicycle, while the other 30 is clamped thereto by means ot can screws 27.

' JThe spokes (not shown) ot the rear wheel My invention is on improvements in bicycle gears, and consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

The object oi the invention is to provide a driving mechanism, wherein the rotating crank shait is replaced by oscillating elbow levers,

and wherein a snnple form of gearing connects the elbow levers with the driving wheel. i

Referring to the drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a side view of a bicycle provided with the improvement, Fig. v2 is a transverse section of the gearing, Fig. 3 is al front view of a portion ot the gearing, Fig. 4 is a detail View of one of the rear axle bearings, Fig. '5 is a side view of the pinion carrying arm, Fig. 6 is a detail view ot' a portion of the mechanism, Fig. 7 is a detail section view of the shaft and ring, and Fig. 8 is a perspective' view of the axle and the block for operating the friction ring.

The embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings consists of a gear casing to be presently described in detail in which the rear axle 1 of the bicycle 2 is supported, the said casing being arranged inside of the wheel proper as shown vin Fig. 2. The casing consists of two sections each comprising a disk 3, 4, each of which is provided with. a lateral annular llange 5, the flange of the disk 4 being externally threaded, while the flange of the disk 3 is internally threaded` and screwed into the flange of the disk 4i The disk 3 is provided with Aa hub portion 6 having a radial annular flange 7 and a reduced portion 8 beyond the ange, and with an internal radial annular flange G, between which and-the inner surface of the reduced portion 8 is arranged a ball ring 10.

The axle 1 is threaded over a portion of its length at the end adjacent to the ball ring, and a collar 11 is threaded onto the axle, the said collar having a beveled portion 12, coperating with the ring 10 to form a ballrace, in which is received a series o'i holding the bearing sleeve 39, and the in balls 13. The disk 4 is also provided with a Kternal gear ring Jfrom endwise movement, hub portion 14 in the torni oit a sleeve, and and a spiral spring 51 encircles lthe hub 41 tively of the disks 3 and 4, one halt to each disk, and the disks and tlanges together with the hub portions torni a dust cover for the gearing which is contained therein. A washer 3l is pinned to the shaft within the disks by means of a pin 32, and anl arm 33 is keyed to the sleeve 17 adjacent to the washer, the end of the sleeve abutting against the washer. A pinion 34 is journaled on each end ot thevarni 33, and the said pinions mesh with a series ot linternal gear teeth 33 on the over-lying flange 35 of a ring 36, which is supported by radial arms 37 extending from a cone bearing sleeve 39 provided with a diaphragm 40 having a hub 41 for receiving the axle. The pinions also mesh with a gear wheel 42 keyed to the sleeve 14, and consequently rigid with the driving wheel. A cone shaped sleeve 43 of wood is arranged with the bearing sleeve 39, and a coneshaped ring 44 fits within the sleeve. A disk 45 is pinned to the ring by pins 4T, and is provided with. an opening 'for receiving the axle. The disk 45 is also'provided in its outer Vface with a depression 46, termed by two planes meeting at an angle and whose apex is the center of the axle. A wooden thrust washer 48 encircles the hub portion -ll ot' the diaphragm 40, and a washer 31 is pinned to the axle 1 by a pin 32, the washer are secured to the flanges 7 and Z1 respec Eval on the 'opposite side from the washer, the ends of the spring engaging the diaphragm and the disk respectively.

rllhe axle l has integral-radial arms 52 adjacent to the cone face of the disk 45, which when the axle is rotated forwardly engage the plane faces 46 ot' the'disk 45, and move the said disk endwise toward the diaphragm 4l). sleeve tlto the ring del, and since the bearn ing sleeve is rigid w'th the internal oear ring, the ring moves with the'axle.

The forward rotation of the gear ring rotates the pinions 35, and the said pinions are prevented from bodily movement by the keying of the sleeve l? to the adjacent split bearing of the vfork 2b by a key 53. Hence the forward movement ol the gear ring is transmitted to the gear wheel 42, moving the said wheel forward but at a much greater speed than the gear ring. rlhe'said gear ring is rigid with the driving wheel and thus a forward movement is imparted to the bicycle. lhen the forward rotation of the axle ceases, the driving wheel is freedirom the said axle, t-he sleeve B9 and ring 44 beig moved ont of engage'ment'by the spring direction the action is the reverse of thatv described forthe forward movement.

The axle is rotated by means of a pair of elbow levers, one of which is pivoted to each side of the frame, as at A'pedal 56 is connected with one of the arms 54 of each of the levers, and the other arm 57 is connected by a link 59 with a radial arm 58 on a washer pinned to the end of the axle as at 6l. The elbow levers are arranged with the corresjionding arms at angles with respect to .cach other, so that when one arm 54 is depressed the corresponding arm of the other lever will be elevated, the levers moving in opposite directions. W hen the elbow levers Y are moved up and down, the axle is intermittently rotated, and the ring 44 is moved longitudinally thereof, to engage the ring and the bearing sleeve, and the gearing will be operated as previously described.

lt will be evident. from the description that when the pedals are held at the halfway point, that is in an operative position, the shaft will be released, so that the wheel may coast. When the pedals are at the halfway point, a braking e'ect willtake place, by a slight depressing of the left pedal and a slight elevating of the right pedal, as from the description. This is due to the movement of the disk #l5 by the pins 52, farther into the ring Ate, thus clamping the disk to the ring, and the ring to the bearing sleeveA 39, which is integral with the internal gear ring.

The rotary movement of the axle l 1s conf ,tinuons, the arms 58 acting as cranks and the shaft is rotatedthrough the connection rlhis movement clamps the bearing- 1When the axle is rotated in a reverse v of the links 59 with the Said maks. as long as the axle is rotated-in a forward direction, and the speed of the bicycle is not .sults as will be evident. The arms 5S are prevented from lateral movement outwardly by means of vwashers Q8, which are held 1:1 position by pins 29.

I claim:

l. 1n a.bicycle. a rear axle, a wheel provided with a two part hub encircling the axle, a cone shaped ring on the axle at one cnil thereof, means whereby the oscillation of the axle will shift the ring, a cone-shaped bearing sleeve for engagement by the ring when it is shifted to lock the sleeve to the axle. a spring acting normallyy to move the ring and sleeve apart. an internally toothed gear ring supported by the bearing sleeve, a gear wheel secured to the hub vwithin the same, -a lixed bar having at its center a bea-ring for receiving the axle. pinions on the ends thereof, and meshing with the teeth ot' the ring and the gear wheel, elbow levers pivoted to eaclrside of the bicycle frame, a pedal on one arm of each lever, a ring' encircling each end of the axle and secured thereto, and provided with a radial arm, and a link connecting'the arm with the other arm of the adjacent elbow lever.

In a bicycle, a rear axle, a wheel provided with a two part hub encircling` the axle, a cone-shaped ring on the axle at one end thereof, means whereby the rotation ot' the axle will shift the ring, a cone-shaped bearing sleeve t'or engagementI by the ring when it is shifted to lock the sleeve to the axle, a spring' acting normally to move'the ring and sleeve apart, an internally toothed gear ring' supported by the bearing sleeve. a gear wheel secured to the hub within the same, a lixed bar having' at its center a bearing for receiving the axle, pinions on. the ends thereof and meshing with the teeth of the ring and the gear wheeh and means for rotating the axle.

ln a bicycle` a rear' axle, means for rotating the same. a. wheel having a hub encircling the axle. a gear wheel rigid with the hab, a fixed bar having a central opening for the axle, a pinion on each end thereot' and meshingr with the gear wheehan internal gear meshing with the pinions, a cone-shaped bearing sleeve encircling the axle and supporting the ring, a conical ring movable longitudinally of the axle for engaging thel sleeve to lock it to the axle, a spring for separating the ring and the' sleeve, and means vvhereb)7 when the axle is rotated in either direction the ring will be moved.

4. In a bicycle, a rear axle, means for rotating the saine, a Wheel having a hub encircling the axle, a. gear Wheel rigid with' the hub, a fixed bar having a central opening for the axle, a pinion on each end thereof and meshing With the gear Wheel, an internal gear meshing with the pinions, a normally inactive friction clutch for connecting the ring to the axle, and means 'whereby the rotation of the axle in either direction Will operate the clutch..

5. In a bicycle, a rear axle, means for ,rotating the same, a 'Wheel having a hub encircling the axle, a gear Wheel rigid with the hub, a fixed bar having a central .opening for the axle, a pinion n each end thereof, and meshing with the gear Wheel, an internal gear meshing With the pinions, and means operated by the rotation of the axle to connect the internal gear therewith.

FRANK VERDER WHITMAN.

YVitnesSes EDWARD H .i GOLDEN, JOHN F. FRENCH. 

